Our Honorees

He flew the wing that the world said was impossible — and gave his life proving it wasn’t. Forty-one years later, it became the B-2 Spirit.
U.S. Army Air Forces · Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing · June 5, 1948 · Edwards Air Force Base Named in His Honor

The only Marine ever honorarily promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. Co-founder of Bravery Brewing Co., Lancaster, CA — opened July 4, 2012. His uniform from Full Metal Jacket hangs in the valley he called home. 1944–2018.

★ Sponsored by Bravery Brewing Co.

“I will either set my country free or shed my last drop of blood to make her so.”
Physician · Patriot · Author of the Suffolk Resolves · Dispatched Paul Revere · America’s First Martyr · 1741–1775

“If the story of his heroism were a movie script, you would not believe it.”
Green Beret · 5th Special Forces Group · 37 wounds · 8 lives saved · Medal of Honor, 1981

“He gave everything so that his men could live.”
Combat Engineer · 3rd Infantry Division · ~100 lives saved · First Medal of Honor of the Iraq War

First woman in American history to receive the Purple Heart — awarded for her leadership under fire at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
U.S. Army Nurse Corps, 1918–1945

“The old flag never touched the ground, boys.”
Company C · 54th Massachusetts Infantry (Colored) · Shot four times · Held the colors through the assault · Medal of Honor, 1900

“And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
The fort that held for 25 hours · 1,000 shells fired · Birthplace of the National Anthem · National Monument & Historic Shrine

“Suffering great pain and subjected to fire of every character, he continued personally to lead and encourage the officers and men under his command with unflinching courage.”
California National Guard · 307th Infantry Regiment · Lost Battalion · Wounded 3 to 4 times · Medal of Honor, 1921

“If other mothers’ sons have to fight, I feel I need to do the same thing.”
Company B · 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division · 10 lives saved · Killed in action June 12, 1953 · Medal of Honor, 2025

“Each time she left to help someone, she went back in — no doubt, she saved hundreds on September 11th.”
NYPD 13th Precinct · Shield No. 10467 · 13-year veteran · First officer to report the attack · The only female NYPD officer killed on 9/11 · Medal of Honor (posthumous)

“She did not hesitate in choosing the badge. And she honored it fully, even in its earliest days.”
Davis Police Department · One of her first weeks on patrol · Killed in the line of duty January 10, 2019 · Age 22 · Daughter of a firefighter

“She built the first community-funded hospital on the reservation because no government would. This archive was built the same way.”
First Native American physician in U.S. history · Valedictorian, 1889 · 1,244 patients across 1,350 sq. miles · Founded Walthill Hospital, 1913 · National Historic Landmark

“Get everybody you can out of here.”
Company E · 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division · Wrapped his arm around a tree and kept firing until every man was safe · Medal of Honor, 1951

Civil War nurse known as the “Angel of the Battlefield.” Founded the American Red Cross in 1881 and served as its president for 23 years. Established a bureau to identify missing soldiers, identifying over 22,000 men. Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Won the landmark 1982 federal lawsuit that opened the FDNY to women for the first time in history. Served 25 years as a New York City firefighter, retiring as Captain. Responded to Ground Zero on 9/11. Founded United Women Firefighters. Awarded the Susan B. Anthony Award.

Founded by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond — the first hospital in America built to treat the sick poor free of charge. Its main building, dating to 1756, is a National Historic Landmark. Still operating today as part of Penn Medicine after 275 years of continuous service.

U.S. Air Force’s first female fighter pilot (1993), flying the F-15E Strike Eagle. First woman to command an Air Force combat fighter wing. Flew 3,000+ hours including 300 combat hours over Iraq and Afghanistan. Retired as Major General after 31 years of service.

Chicago Police Department officer who founded “No Matter What,” a nonprofit delivering mentorship, career training, and mental health support to Chicago youth. A former chef turned officer, he built a community garden in Englewood to feed students after a local grocery store closed.

Mess Attendant aboard USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor. Carried wounded sailors to safety then manned an anti-aircraft gun under fire with no prior gunnery training. First African American recipient of the Navy Cross, presented personally by Admiral Nimitz in 1942. The aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) bears his name.

The oldest continuously operating fire station in the United States. A rare surviving example of Greek Revival firehouse architecture, in unbroken service to its community for over 175 years.

Escaped slavery and conducted 13 missions on the Underground Railroad, freeing approximately 70 people. Served the Union Army as a spy, scout, and nurse during the Civil War — the first woman in American history to lead an armed military raid. Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.